Plant Profile: Cytisus x praecox

Taxonomy: Cytisus x praecox

Names

Scotch Broom, Warminster Broom

  • Photo of Cytisus x praecox (Cytisus x praecoxs)

Phonetic Spelling:SY-tiss-us PRAY-koks

Genus:Cytisus

Species:

Family:Fabaceae

Scotch Broom is a deciduous shrub characterized by its arching, multi-stemmed form, belonging to the Fabaceae family, and can reach heights of up to 6 feet. In milder climates, it may retain its leaves year-round. This plant showcases an abundance of vibrant yellow flowers in mid-spring, making it a striking addition to any shrub border. The evergreen branches feature small, sparse leaves, contributing a medium-fine texture and visual interest during the winter months.

This shrub is an excellent option for mass planting on slopes or hillsides. Once it is established, it demonstrates resilience against drought, poor soil conditions, salt, and partial shade. Known for its rapid growth and relative freedom from pests, Scotch Broom also has pink and crimson varieties. However, it has a relatively short lifespan, typically lasting between 5 to 7 years.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

Cytisus x praecox Feature Summary

Cytisus x praecox Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#drought tolerant
#white flowers
#shade tolerant
#yellow flowers
#salt tolerant
#spring flowers
#slopes
#mass planting
#fast growing
#pest resistant
#spring interest
#fantz
#hillsides
#poor soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#shrub borders

Similar Plants

Cytisus x praecox is often confused with:

Cytisus x praecox Feature Summary

Fruit
The plant produces legumes that are hairy along the margins and are 1"-2" in size. Legumes can be either yellow or white.
Gold/Yellow
White
1-3 inches
Flowers
1/2 inch to 3/4 inch fragrant pale yellow pea-like flowers appear in profusion in the spring.
Gold/Yellow
Fragrant
Good Cut
Showy
fused petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
1/4 to 3/4 inch leaves are alternate, mostly simple, lanceolate to linear-spatulate with entire margins and silky pubescent.
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Green
Gray/Silver
Linear
Lanceolate
Spatulate
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Stem
Stems are slender, green, and ridged. Older stems are brownish.
Whole Plant Traits
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Multi-stemmed
Rounded
Erect
Dense
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Piedmont
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Rock Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Drought
Insect Pests
Urban Conditions
Salt
Dry Soil
Poor Soil
Slope/Bank
Coastal

Cytisus x praecox Attributes

Cytisus x praecox: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe

Cytisus x praecox: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cytisus x praecox: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Cytisus x praecox Fruit

Cytisus x praecox: Fruit Description

The plant produces legumes that are hairy along the margins and are 1"-2" in size. Legumes can be either yellow or white.

Cytisus x praecox: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Cytisus x praecox: Fruit Color

grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
White

Cytisus x praecox: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Cytisus x praecox Flowers

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Description

1/2 inch to 3/4 inch fragrant pale yellow pea-like flowers appear in profusion in the spring.

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Cytisus x praecox: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Cytisus x praecox Leaves

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Description

1/4 to 3/4 inch leaves are alternate, mostly simple, lanceolate to linear-spatulate with entire margins and silky pubescent.

Cytisus x praecox: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Cytisus x praecox: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cytisus x praecox: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cytisus x praecox Stem

Cytisus x praecox: Stem Description

Stems are slender, green, and ridged. Older stems are brownish.

Cytisus x praecox: Stem Color

grass
Green

Cytisus x praecox: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cytisus x praecox Whole Plant Traits

Cytisus x praecox: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cytisus x praecox: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cytisus x praecox: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cytisus x praecox: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Cytisus x praecox: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cytisus x praecox Cultural Conditions

Cytisus x praecox: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cytisus x praecox: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Cytisus x praecox: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cytisus x praecox: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cytisus x praecox: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Cytisus x praecox: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Cytisus x praecox: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Cytisus x praecox Landscape

Cytisus x praecox: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cytisus x praecox: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Cytisus x praecox: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cytisus x praecox: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland